RAPAPORT... Christie’s sold $79.8 million (HKD 618.7 million) worth of
jewelry at its Hong Kong auction this week, with luxury brand Harry Winston purchasing
the most expensive diamond.

Nayla Hayek, the jeweler’s CEO, bought the rectangular-cut, 3.98-carat, fancy vivid blue, VVS2
diamond for $8.9 million, or $2.2 million per carat, Christie’s said Tuesday. The
price of the stone, which was mounted in a ring along with cushion- and
triangular-shaped pink diamonds, fell within the pre-sale estimate of $8.3
million to $11 million.

“I am so happy to have been able to secure this rare blue
diamond, which will take a prominent place in our important collection of top
gems,” said Hayek.

The auction also featured jewels from four Hong Kong
designers: Adrian Cheng, Cindy Chao, Edmond Chin and Michelle Ong. These items
went for a combined $12.4 million, with an emerald-and-diamond “palmette”-motif
necklace by Chin achieving $6 million.

Separately, a handbag featuring 205 diamonds with a combined
weight of 10.23 carats — all VVS clarity and ranging from F to G in color —
went under the hammer Wednesday for $379,261 at Christie’s “Handbags and
Accessories” auction in Hong Kong. The item smashed its pre-sale high estimate
of $257,909, setting a new world record for any handbag sold at auction,
Christie’s said.